John Berry Biography 

For more than 45 years, John Berry lived and breathed reptiles. His journey began in South Africa, where, as a boy, he spent countless hours in the bush pursuing a deep fascination with wildlife—especially reptiles. That passion became a career when he joined Transvaal Snake Park in Midrand, South Africa. There, John worked closely with venomous snakes, performed live public demonstrations, and collected venom for laboratories during those presentations. He was truly in his element.

At age 21, John made headlines with a feat few people would dare attempt: he set a world record by spending 69 days confined in a glass-fronted enclosure with 28 of the world’s deadliest snakes at Dudley Zoo in the United Kingdom. It was a defining moment that reinforced his reputation as a skilled, fearless keeper with exceptional knowledge of venomous species.

In the early 2000s, John brought his expertise to ball pythons, breeding and selling them as the morph and mutation hobby was beginning to grow. Over the years, he became one of the most respected and recognizable voices in the reptile community—known not only for the quality of his animals, but also for his generosity in sharing what he knew.

For more than 20 years, John authored the Designer Morphs series, along with other books on captive care, breeding, and morph genetics. These resources helped shape how a generation of keepers understood and worked with ball pythons and Western hognose snakes.

John eventually made his home in Texas with his wife, Mary, and their daughters, Jessie and Megan. He continued breeding and writing, shifting his primary focus in later years to Western hognose snakes. His final projects were updated editions of his Designer Morphs books—work he was determined to complete and share with the reptile community that had supported him for decades.

John passed away in August 2026 after a long battle with cancer. In his final years, he continued doing what he loved most: keeping snakes, writing, and teaching.

Today, his family carries his work forward. This shop exists to share John’s final passion project and preserve his legacy as a breeder, author, and educator for the keepers who follow.